Going to Strontian this weekend

austin

Well-Known Member
The weather looks fair this weekend 19/20th October (for the time of year anyway) so we have decided today to mosey our way up to Strontian on Friday and back on Monday. Staying at Sunart camping in one of the cabins as I haven’t yet worked out how to get tent and stuff and me and Anne on the bike yet.

We are just going to bimble around the lanes in the area. I also fancy a look at the road down the side of Loch Arkaig (West of Spean Bridge) and the coast road south of Mallaig. Might nip over to Mull as I haven’t been to the west side of the island in years. Hmmm, Tobermory distillery

Just saying, tips for places to go welcome or if you fancy a trip over that way too that would be nice.
 

nick949

Well-Known Member
The weather looks fair this weekend 19/20th October (for the time of year anyway) so we have decided today to mosey our way up to Strontian on Friday and back on Monday. Staying at Sunart camping in one of the cabins as I haven’t yet worked out how to get tent and stuff and me and Anne on the bike yet.

We are just going to bimble around the lanes in the area. I also fancy a look at the road down the side of Loch Arkaig (West of Spean Bridge) and the coast road south of Mallaig. Might nip over to Mull as I haven’t been to the west side of the island in years. Hmmm, Tobermory distillery

Just saying, tips for places to go welcome or if you fancy a trip over that way too that would be nice.

Have a great time Austin and Anne. That's a lovely area.
I'll be lucky to squeeze in a couple of days between rain and cold. Convert or Quota - haven't decided yet.
 

Lowflyer

Well-Known Member
Well it's my grand daughter's birthday on the Saturday, but Sunday ? Mmmmm, might manage to slink away :D
As for places to go. The road to Mallaig via Glenuig is a good road. Also Sanna sands at Kilchoan is also very nice.There is also a good viewing point for whales at the top end of Kilchoan village.
I'll pm you my mob no, see if we can hook up at some point :thumbsup:

Cheers
 

austin

Well-Known Member
Well, yesterday was a good day. Today started well with a ride round the very minor road through Kingairloch south of Strontian and then the long way round to Fort William where after a coffee I noticed that rear tyre was splattered with oil and a drip was hanging from final drive / bevel gearbox. Hmmm, not good. Three immediate concerns: 1. How much oil has leaked out? 2. Is there enough still in there? (Answers I reckon are “not much” and “enough” as the amount of oil is little more than an over oiled drive chain). 3. How slippery is that tyre going to be (answer on that is easy really - I hadn’t noticed until I was stopped so arguably it’s fine).

I wiped the gearbox and wheel rim clean and set off slowly back to Strontian the quick way over Corran Ferry (£3, again!!) with plans to meet Lowflyer and SteveT on Sunday put on hold, and a new plan to get the bike recovered back to the dealer. But, Now I am back there’s no further leaks and a browse on the V85TT Facebook pages suggest this is a not uncommon problem that can come and go and doesn’t really amount to much in the way of actual oil leaking out. So, provided there’s no drips in the morning we are going to head out for a steady ride on Sunday (May still go the pub we were planning to meet Lowflyer and SteveT at) and check the bike for oil leaks every 20miles or so. If all ok we will slowly ride back home on Monday again checking frequently and then discuss with the dealer how to proceed from there.

I still love the bike though.
 

nick949

Well-Known Member
Ah, they all do that Austin ;). I'm sure it's an aberration. They are tough old buggers. I rode my Convert back from near Quebec City to home with a gushing rear drive seal. Other than making a mess it did just fine.
 

austin

Well-Known Member
There’s a couple of guys on the FB page got a real bee in their bonnet of the leaking FD. Seems to have affected about 10% of bikes so far, some early in their life most after few thousand miles or kms like mine. It seems to be a badly specced seal as the drive is common to the V7 and V9 and they have similar issues. The seal basically just wears out. Replacing the seal is apparently fairly easy but as it’s still under warranty it’s going to go back to the dealers.

I am confident it will get us home as so far, looking st the amount of oil splatter, I suspect the leak has been little more than a few drops. But I will keep an eye on it all the same.
 

austin

Well-Known Member
Fantastic weather today. Sunshine all day, super clear air on account of the light northerly breeze. Lowflyer and SteveT rode over from Inverness and Elgin respectively to meet us at Strontian. Great to see them again and after a bit of chit chat we headed off towards Arisaig along gloriously coloured autumnal roads. After about 20 miles John pulled over do I could inspect the oil leak - dry. Hurrah. He also stopped just about a one- house place called “ Austinscroft”. A bit spooky. So the next 30 or so miles got despatched at a much brisket pace.

We stopped for lunch at the Arisaig Hotel where a second inspection revealed an ever so slightly wet final drive. It hasn’t fixed itself then but the amount of oil was tiny. This time I wiped the whole wheel and final drive dry. Lunch eaten and a fiddly-diddly band started up but we had to go. John and Steve heading back home while we decided to nip up to Mallaig for a quick lap of the town and harbour before heading back to Strontian at a more modest pace. The final drive and wheel were still dry when we arrived. Double hurrah.

The draw back to nice clear skies in the day in a very cold night. Just +2c forecast but as there was a frost this morning with a forecast of +5c I am expecting something a bit harsher tonight. But the cabin we are in is heated. It will be cold start home tomorrow though.
 

nick949

Well-Known Member
It's just testing you Austin. After all those years on BMWs it has to figure out whether you're worthy (or perhaps it was over-filled at the dealers). They're tough buggers. A couple of years ago I rode back from near Quebec City to home on the Convert (about 300 miles) with a blown oil seal in the final drive. It was a nasty mess but no damage and was an easy fix. Glad you're having a good time.
 

Lowflyer

Well-Known Member
Good seeing you guys again :thumbsup:
Weather was mixed on the way back with the inevitable mist hovering over the Ben at Ft William.
Steve will be along with some pics shortly I would imagine.
Great day out, great weather, great friends -- what more could you ask for :respect13:
 

Steve T

Well-Known Member
What an excellent day out that was :thumbsup:

After filling the steads with motion lotion, Lowflyer & I took the tourist road down the northern side of Loch Ness, grateful for the low traffic volume which allowed us to “make progress” :rolleyes:. The autumn sunshine turned the hills surrounding the roads we rode in a blanket of green and brown hues. Beautiful to behold, but none captured on camera cos we wos enjoying the ride too much :thumbsupanim:!

Got to Corran and took the ferry across to the peninsular.
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After “chin-wagging” with the happy campers, we all set out for a gentle ride west then north. A few pictures from our ride . . .
Austin doing a “drip” check
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A stop to soak up the view across to Skye and the Cullins (not in shot)
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As Austin has said, the weather was great when it mattered – during the little group ride from Strontian to Aultguish. Grand day out, in great company, on superb bits of tarmac, all interspersed with excellent craic. Great to see Anne & Austin again – it’s been such a long time since we last met up ;)

Steve T

:cool:
 
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Lowflyer

Well-Known Member
Well I was back on the same road on Monday, as far as Ft Augustas where I had a meeting with a client. Weather again was fantastic
Gotta say, I had forgotten how gnarly that A82 can get when it is devoid of tourists.:D Ok, in the car, but great craic none the less.
Absolutely had a blast throwing the VRS into the tight bends. Only slowed down at that fabulous Allt Sigh straight ( wonder who designed that magnificent bit of road ;) ) :respect10: Only slowed down there as it is the only bit where the cops can sit and wait :eek:
But, no cops, so gave her the welly ----- again !! :thumbsup:
 
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